Thousands enjoy the opportunity to witness history in the making

Presiding over the Beatification Mass for Father Solanus Casey, Nov. 18 at Ford Field in Detroit, at center, is his Eminence Angelo Cardinal Amato from Rome, Italy, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints and representative of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. DAVID ANGELL - FOR THE MACOMB DAILY

A cross is placed in front of a memorial tribute to the Blessed Father Solanus Casey, during the Beatification Mass at Ford Field, Nov. 18, 2017. DAVID ANGELL - FOR THE MACOMB DAILY

Through the pouring rain the people came, some walking on their own, others with canes or pushed in wheelchairs. The sick and the poor, young and old, men, women and children, thousands of people traveled to Detroit’s Ford Field for Saturday’s Eucharistic Liturgy and Rite of Beatification of Father Solanus Casey.

And to witness what many people knew to be an extraordinary moment in history.

“Look at this,” said Jason Balcom of Brighton, watching the flow of people entering the stadium that was decked out in honor of the humble friar who is only one step away from becoming a saint and only the second Amercian-born male to be beatified in the Catholic Church. “It’s amazing. Anything that brings God to the forefront with the masses is a miracle in itself.”

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The ceremony did not start until 4 p.m.

However, by 2:30 p.m., the seats in the stadium as well as down on the field were starting to fill up with thousands of faithful with devotions to Casey — not to mention hundreds of Capuchins and clergy members and more than 300 of Casey’s relatives.

“We are very proud and happy to be here. We came from San Francisco,” said Marc Kristenson, holding his 1-year-old daughter in his arms and watching the excitement unfold around him. “Father Solanus is my wife’s great uncle. So, yeah, we’re part of the Casey crew.”

Ellen Fitzgerald of Seattle, Washington, who was also among Casey’s crew invited for the ceremony, was awed by the admiration folks had for her great uncle. “I’m honored and grateful to everyone who came for him,” said Fitzgerald, whose grandfather was one of Casey’s brothers.

“He would have been astounded by the attention,” added another member of the family.

“I think he would have said, ‘Why make such a fuss?’” said Brother Richard Merling, Capuchin and vice-postulator assigned to investigate favors (aka miracles) attributed to the intercession of Casey, including the recent healing of Paula Medina Zarate. She and the Archbishop of Panama were not only guests at the Mass but she was given the honor of placing the cross at the altar.

“Everyone is very excited,” Brother Merling said, while watching a group of clergy members hugging and shaking hands. For many, who traveled to the event it was like a reunion. “And yet, there’s a certain calmness to the crowd.”

It was a fact that he appreciated since he was a tad nervous about having to speak to so many people.

Once everyone was seated the Mass began promptly at 4 p.m. with a procession of priests, bishops, cardinals and other clergy led by his Eminence Angelo Cardinal Amato from Rome, Italy, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. During the Mass, the Beatification of Casey was decreed in an Apostolic letter that was read by the Cardinal on behalf of Pope Francis.

Before that, Archbishop Vigneron and Brother Merling told the crowd how the friar who grew up on a farm in Wisconsin had come to be a Capuchin and the Blessed Father Solanus Casey.

As people arrived, those seated enjoyed the music provided by the 300-member choir representing parishes throughout southeastern Michigan and stories about people who attribute their own miracles to the Blessed Father Solanus Casey, including the father of a boy who had cancer.

“My son was 14 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer,” said Kevin Blute of River Edge, New Jersey, who had just finished showing Brother Merling the story that his hometown newspaper had written about his son. “After he was diagnosed my mom gave me a relic badge (picture of Father Solanus encased in plastic with a tiny piece of his Capuchin robe) and when we got home from the hospital I gave it to my son and we started praying to Father Solanus.”

His son not only received good news at a cancer screening shortly after they started praying but went on to graduate from Michigan State University and is now 25 years old. “He’s living and working in Indiana,” said Blute. “That’s why I’m here — for gratitude.”

Members of the church played a large part in the ceremonies, but there were also lay people who spoke during the Mass — for prayers and peace — that brought some to tears. Then, just when everyone could not be more impressed by the grandeur of it all, the crowd of 65,000-plus was given communion.

“We were brought together as one in Jesus Christ today and it was all because of one, simple, humble man who was extraordinary,” said Kim Myers of Clarkston and the director of campus ministry at Holy Family Regional School who attended the Mass with her husband, Jon Myers, who is principal of the school. “Ford Field, which usually is filled with shouts of joy for sports and concerts, was filled with shouts of praise and thanksgiving. I got chills many times during the readings of what this man did and watching so many people in prayer. Watching the hundreds of priests and deacons walk to offer us Christ in the Eucharist was profound and brought tears to my eyes. I feel so blessed to have been a part of this day.”

The Relics

The Beatification Mass of Father Solanus Casey was only a few hours long but it was months in the making, going back as far back as this past summer when the friar’s remains were exhumed and relics were collected as part of the canonical process.

A relic is something connected with a saint or blessed such as a part of their body (piece of hair or bone), their clothing or an object that the person used or touched.

It was the day after the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Casey’s death on July 31, on Aug. 1, when a select number of people gathered for the solemn exhumation service attended by members of the Capuchin Franciscan Order of St. Joseph in Detroit and three medical professionals who were on hand to examine the remains and report on the condition of the body.

Also present was Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron.

“Presiding at the process for opening the tomb of Father Solanus and confirming the identity of his early remains was a time of significant prayer for me,” Archbishop Vigneron said afterwards, in an article for The Michigan Catholic.

This was the second time Casey’s body has been exhumed – the first time being in 1987 when his remains were moved from the friar’s cemetery to St. Bonaventure Monastery chapel.

The exhumation is done for several reasons. Thirty-years ago, it was done to recognize the body and to evaluate its condition but no relics were taken at that time said Vigneron, because Casey had not been made venerable.

Once Pope Francis announced the beatification of the Capuchin friar, another exhumation took place for the purpose of collecting relics which will be used in the church.

The relics, which are expected to be on display at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit, and perhaps other places, are categorized as: first class relics – a part of the person’s body; second class – an article touched by the person or directly to part of his or her body; and third class – something touched indirectly to the person.

During the process solemnly observed by church officials, each relic removed was then secured inside a vial that will be sent to Rome to be catalogued, authenticated and prepared for distribution by the church.

When it was all over the body was reinterred in a new Capuchin habit and casket, which was then officially sealed by Archbishop Vigneron along with an authentication document signed by those present, before the closing prayer.

Father Larry Webber, a Capuchin and one of the vice-postulators for the canonization of Father Solanus called the opportunity to see and venerate the remains of his saintly brother Capuchin a very powerful and spiritual experience.

“Many mixed feelings filled the hearts of our Capuchin community,” he said, following the event. “We are well aware that Father Solanus is now part of something greater than just our Capuchin community. He belongs to the whole church, and we pray that his eventual canonization might make him another model of holiness in following Jesus Christ in the universal church.”